This year’s annual exhibition of the Pastel Society of New Mexico received entries from 121 artists, submitting a record number 355 paintings. The jurors were distinguished artists Kim Casebeer, Liz Haywood-Sullivan and Kim Lordier, who selected 141 paintings by 87 artists to be featured in the show, which was presented at Expo New Mexico in Albuquerque from November 4 to 27.

The judge of awards was renowned pastelist Desmond O’Hagan. “[O’Hagan] masterfully took the time to review all of the entries several times,” said National Show Chair Nicholas Tesluk. “His attention to detail, and the care he demonstrated in choosing the awards, were factors that made the chosen award winners so meaningful to this exhibition.”

Peaches and Silver (pastel) by Sarah Blumenschein

Prizes (in the amount of $13,000 total) were awarded to: Miguel Malagon, who won the first place for Eleho; and Sarah Blumenschein, second place winner for Peaches and Silver; Margi Lucena, who took the third place award for Summer Evening Shadows; and Charles “Bud” Edmondson, earning the firth place award for Oasis.

“The exceptional quality and high level of skill was very apparent among the pastels included in this exhibit,” said O’Hagan. “When judging this level of competition, I find the task both challenging and rewarding. As with other shows I’ve judged, my primary goal is to seek out paintings that have an immediate visual impact.”

Summer Evening Shadows (pastel) by Margi Lucena

Special thanks to Natasha Isenhour whose article on the NMPS show was a resource for this report.